Slurry pump systems for ceramic slips

Slurry pump systems for ceramic slips must adequately meet the needs of an industrial and handicraft sector in which Italy is a world class excellence.

Throughout the country there are almost 300 companies in this sector. They produce tableware, tiles, sanitary, refractory materials, bricks and more.

It is an export and internationalisation-oriented field, which invoices approximately 7 billion euros each year, and in which nearly 30,000 people work.

The wide range of PEMO products includes an excellent choice of slurry pumps for slips. Combined with the company’s over ten-year experience, it makes Perissinotto S.p.A. the ideal partner also for the ceramic industry.

The continuous commitment to research and development of new products offers tailor-made solutions for systems in this and other production sectors.

The versatility of PEMOPUMPS products allows its whole range to adapt to any type of system. However, some models are particularly suitable for the different phases of the process:

• recovery and transformation of press powders into slip, with transfer to the preloading tanks of the mill;
• slip transfer from the grinding mills to the storage tanks, and from these to the feeding tanks of the atomizers;
• feeding of ceramic glazes into the painting booths;
• washing water pumping and recovery from lines and mills;
• thickened slurries pumping;
• filter press feeding.

Systems for unloading slip from mills

Before analysing the systems forunloading the slip from the mills, let’s start by saying that the slip is the result of the grinding and atomization process, which is part of the ceramic production cycle.

In particular, wet grinding minimises the particle size of the ceramic mixtures, and makes them as homogeneous as possible. Then the ground mixtures are dispersed in a solution of solids in water (precisely the slip), which is useful to further reduce the natural particles.

During the subsequent atomization phase, the ceramic slip is transformed into a powder which, due to its particle size and humidity, is suitable for pressing.

This type of slurry pumps deal with a very abrasive and highly viscous material, which can expose them to a very wearing process. To limit wear and the need for maintenance, the quality of impeller and body coatings is essential.

In addition, it is important to keep the slips uniform throughout the transfer path from the grinding mills to the storage tanks, and from these latter to the atomizer feed tanks. It helps systems to ensure the durability of slurry pumps, as well as production efficiency and product quality.

Due to the strong abrasiveness of the material used, this operation is rather complex.

Among the PEMO products dedicated to the transfer of slips, the MONO mill unloading system deserves a mention.

Designed exclusively for the ceramic systems and suitable for unloading slips from continuous cycle mills, this plant is perfect for transferring ceramic slips with density 1.8 and resistance to temperatures up to 80°- 90°C.

Consisting of a slurry pump capable of running even dry, installed externally in a tank which is available in different sizes, the MONO mill unloading systems are characterised by ease of maintenance, which minimises the machine downtime.

The robustness of the construction is combined with efficiency, also thanks to the reduced maintenance times compared to multi-pump models.

Triple body slurry pumps for the transfer of slip to the atomisers

The triple bodyS-ATM model represents the most efficient slurry pump for the ceramic industry.

In fact, though the versatility of PEMO products allows all models to adapt to any type of use, some of them are particularly well suited to operating in this sector.

Triple body S-ATM is a type of horizontal slurry pump, which is suitable for the transfer of liquids with high concentrations of abrasive particles and used where the required discharge pressure is up to 22-25 bar.

This slurry pump model is available in four versions and has been specifically designed to power large atomisers. In a few years it has proved to be a winning alternative to piston slurry pumps often used for the same applications, much less efficient and much more complex to manage.

Its sturdiness, ease of installation, superalloy bodies and impellers guarantee durability over time.

Thanks to the possibility of installing high powers at variable speeds, they can reach considerable pressures, also guaranteeing high time savings during transfers.

The mechanical seals can be single or double and are made of highly abrasion resistant materials.